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“Something you’ll never have.” Cian’s voice was a growl, and I bit my bottom lip at the startled look on her face.
Cian gripped my hand and we ran towards one of the golf carts. We left Penelope in the dust, literally, as we drove down the path back to the main house.
“What’s the answer?” I turned toward him.
“She will pay for throwing that rock at you.” His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.
“Karma will pay her back, no doubt.” I shook my head. “Is it ‘love?’” I arched my eyebrow and gazed at him. He lowered his eyes for a moment and said something so low, I couldn’t make it out over the wind blasting in my face.
“‘Heart.’ It’s ‘heart.’”
“Ahh.” I nodded. “See, what would I have done without you today?” I chuckled and elbowed his side.
He glanced at me and then back at the path. I could tell he wanted to say something, but for whatever reason, he didn’t. Maybe it was for the better. But I didn’t want to end the day with any weird lingering animosities between us.
“Look, thanks for today.” I put my hand on his biceps and immediately regretted it when he looked at me. “You were a good partner. And regardless of the history between you and Ryzen, and me and you, I think you’re a good person and I wish you luck in your future.” I smiled and patted his arm.
This was good. It was the right thing to do. Leave the past in the past, forget about all the craziness that had happened, and move on with our lives. Let him and Ryzen hash it out between themselves and leave me out of it.
The way Cian laughed sent goosebumps up my arm. He pulled up to the gate and turned the cart off. The air around us turned electric, and not in the fun way. His eyes burned into me, and I shifted in my seat. He clapped slowly, a smile spreading across his face.
“Quite the speech, Nova. But let me make myself clear, so there are no misunderstandings. I will take back what is rightfully mine and destroy anyone who gets in my way.” I flinched at the harshness in his voice and sat frozen as he reached his hand up and cupped my chin. “And as for you”—he stroked my bottom lip with his thumb—“if you don’t open your eyes to what is really happening, he will chew you up and spit you out. You’re a toy, Nova. Smarten up and do it quickly.”
I jerked my head out of his grasp, heat rushing to the tips of my ears. I scoffed, lost for words. “Fuck. You.” Well,almostlost for words. I undid my seatbelt and climbed out of the golf cart. “Why did you have to ruin it, huh?” I glared at him, then turned on my heel.
He punched the code into the gate and the doors slid open. I squeezed through the small gap and ran towards the house.
I was seeing red. A hundred different thoughts were racing through my mind, but all I could focus on was one. Ryzen was right. Cian was a total asshole, and I had been so stupid to let my guard down all day. I should have known better. Well, screw him. Screw this place.
The main house was in sight, about a quarter of a mile up the road. I peeked over my shoulder to see how far back Cian was. He was nowhere to be seen, though. Good, let him stay back, otherwise I might scratch his face off.
A stretch limo was parked in the driveway, and I could just make out one of Ryzen’s security leaning against the hood. Good, that meant he was back, and that this ordeal would be over soon. I trotted up the road, my legs aching. Ryzen stepped out of the limo—well, at least it looked like him from where I was at. I yelled his name and waved, but he didn’t look in my direction. A woman stepped out after him, a blonde. Iva? Why were they together?
I yelled both their names, neither turning in my direction to acknowledge me. They must not be able to hear me from so far away. Iva leaned in and Ryzen tilted his head down, the same way he had done to me so many times over the past few weeks.
Wait.
Wait a damn minute.
Were they kissing?
Were they kissing in front of me?
“Hey!” I yelled, but they still didn’t look in my direction. They headed inside the house, Ryzen’s security trailing behind them.
I didn’t know what was in the water in Texas that made these men think they could do whatever they wanted without consequences. But they were in for a rude awakening.
I stomped up the stairs to the house and threw the front door open.
Chapter Thirteen
“And then the priest said, ‘We’re going to need more wine!’” Hewie threw his head back and slapped his hand on the dining table. The couple across from him shook their heads and gave each other knowing looks. Bunch of party poopers, if you asked me.
I grinned and took a sip of my champagne. His reaction to his own joke was funnier than the actual, slightly offensive joke itself. I couldn’t help but laugh along when tears streamed down his cheeks.
Ryzen squeezed my left knee, and I sighed. Oh, that was right, I’d forgotten. No laughing at lewd jokes in public. Especially not a joke his competitor had made.
I plastered a huge smile on my face and turned towards him. On a scale of one to ten on the crazy meter, I was feeling like a solid six after our argument earlier.
